The Red Arrows have had to call a former team member out of retirement after one of the pilots broke his leg playing football.

Making the announcement on Twitter, Squadron Leader Martin Pert, the team leader, said the iconic aerobatic display team has had to call up recently-retired Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Mike Bowden to fill the seat vacated by Flt Lt Dave Simmonds.

Whilst keen to stress that Flt Lt Simmonds, known by his callsign of Red 3, “very much remains part of the Red Arrows family”, the team leader announced his injury with a twinkle in his eye.

“His knee injury, which was sustained as he turned to chase a football, with no contact with anyone else in the game, does involve broken bones,” he said.

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